Following on from the Xperia ion, the Sony Xperia S will be formally announced later today. Full details of the handset were leaked prematurely and we have all of the details. The Xperia S is part of the new Xperia NXT series, this range denotes the company’s next generation products. One of the key features of this range is a new design called Identity Iconic. We are referring to the transparent notification strip at the bottom of the phone. Sony says that this element emphasises the display and also houses the antenna.

In terms of specifications, the Sony Xperia S will be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (MSM8260 chipset) and 32GB of internal memory. It will have a 4.3-inch (720 x 1280) Reality display with Bravia Engine, implying a very impressive 342PPI pixel density. Camera duties will be taken care of by a 12MP Exmor R camera with f/2.4 aperture and 1080p video recording. It will also be armed with a 1.3MP front facing camera, capable of 720p video recording. Like the Xperia ion the Xperia S will be able to take pictures from sleep in just 1.5 seconds.

Other features include a 1750mAh battery, HDMI and NFC. The latter will be able to be used with one of the company’s new accessories called Xperia SmartTags NFC (more on that later). Like the Xperia ion, the Xperia S will be a PlayStation Certified handset. The Xperia S weighs 144 grams and has dimensions of 128 x 64 x 10.6 mm. The Xperia S will launch from the end of Q1 2012, initially with Android Gingerbread 2.3 and then updated to Android 4.0 ICS in Q2 2012.

January 9, 2012, Las Vegas, Nev. – Xperia™ ion, the first LTE smartphone from Sony®*, was introduced today at the 2012 International CES and will be available exclusively in the U.S. from AT&T in the second quarter.

Xperia ion from Sony has a stunning 4.6-inch HD display (1280 X 720 pixels) that provides a visual brilliance for superior viewing experiences. For photo enthusiasts, Xperia ion features a new Fast Capture innovation to make sure life's unexpected moments are not missed: the HD camera goes from standby mode to first shot in 1.5 seconds.1 The impressive images taken with the 12-megapixel rear camera are unmatched by any other Android smartphone.

"With Xperia ion, we're bringing together several firsts that will take users beyond the smartphone," said Paul Hamnett, President, Sony Ericsson North America. "Designed to deliver a seamless experience across the multiple screens we use to play, watch, listen, and share, Xperia ion is the gateway to entertainment when and – most importantly – where you want it."

Xperia ion users will be able to access the richest entertainment experiences from Sony Entertainment Network. Music Unlimited offers a global catalogue of 15 million unique songs while Video Unlimited has the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios.

Xperia ion is also PlayStation™ Certified, guaranteeing a high quality smartphone gaming experience.

Key Features for Xperia ion: 4.6-inch HD Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine with HD resolution screen (1280 x 720), as well as rear (1080p) and front (720p) cameras for HD recording. 1.5GHz dual-core processor for fast browsing and content download, which can be stored on the internal 16GB flash storage. 12MP rear camera with Sony Exmor R™ for mobile with fast-capture to go from standby to first shot in less than two seconds. HD sharing through DLNA, HDMI and BRAVIA Sync to quickly and easily stream content on other screens.

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